Research

Our goal at Threshold is to ensure that we use and endorse only outcome-based, research validated therapy and treatment procedures and protocols.

For almost 4 decades Threshold has explored, researched and implemented behavior plans to determine the impact of shaping and reinforcing behavior.

Threshold's behavior analysis laboratory is located on our main campus and has served as the only functional analysis laboratory until recently with the opening of the Scott Center at Florida Institute of Technology. The laboratory houses a treatment room and an office/experimental room separated by an enclosed observation area with one-way mirrors and speaker system. Our four camera video system ensures that we are able to capture the targeted behaviors from all angles. Hand-held and laptop computers running behavioral observation software are available for data collection. A list of recent research projects involving Threshold staff and clients follows.

Wilder, D. A., Register, M., Register, S., Bajagic, V., & Neidert, P. (2009). Functional analysis and treatment of rumination using fixed-time delivery of a flavor spray. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 42, 877-882.

Schadler, J., Wilder, D., Blakely, E. (2009). Signaling stimulus presentation during treatment with noncontingent reinforcement. Behavioral Interventions, 24, 107-116.

Wilder, D. A., *Schadler, J., Higbee, T., Haymes, L, Register, M., & Bajagic, V. (2008). Identification of olfactory stimuli as reinforcers in individuals with autism: A preliminary investigation. Behavioral Interventions, 23, 97-103.

This knowledge and research is not restricted to children and adults on the autism spectrum.

Behavior training can be a significant tool in the hands of health care providers from all walks of life. Our belief is that any therapist or patient educator can reach levels of success with their patients that will exceed their otherwise great clinical knowledge. Patients and indeed all people do the things they do because of the outcomes of their actions. At the same time four thousand years of research has concluded that 50% of the total patient population will be non-compliant with their physician's orders. The impact on society is a staggering additional 3.5 billion dollars in unnecessary costs per year. 100,000 needless deaths and countless suffering occurs annually in the United States because patients are non-compliant with their providers orders. Threshold's current research is focusing on whether therapists with behavior based training will have better compliance with their patients than therapists who are traditionally trained. While still in the early data gathering stages, we strongly believe that good therapists who are behaviorally trained can better affect the outcomes of their patients than therapists who are not behaviorally trained.

Additional Resources

National Autism Association
Autism Society of America
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Autism Research Institute
First Signs
Autism Collaboration
Unlocking Autism
AutismOne